Cost of making Welsh schools fit for purpose 'unclear'

The money needed to make all schools in Wales "fit for purpose" should be made clear, says a new report.

A cross-party group of Assembly Members have been examining methods used by the Welsh Assembly Government to decide capital investment in schools.

Jonathan Morgan, chair of the public accounts committee, said a "clear process for bringing all school buildings up to scratch" was vital.

Its inquiry followed a report by the auditor general for Wales in July.

The committee concluded that while a recently established 21st Century schools programme has gone some way toward addressing weaknesses in past strategies, there were still gaps which needed filling.

Mr Morgan, the Conservative AM for Cardiff North, said: "The 21st Century schools programme was brought in at a time when more funding was available for large-scale projects.

"We urge the Welsh government to show how that programme has been adapted in this changing financial climate.

"We also want to see exactly what being 'fit for purpose' means and when this much-needed standard will be attained."